Hi guys
This just landed on my sunflower seed mixture. It seems a much duller greeny brown colour than my regular siskins.
Is it a juvy or female siskin?
Sorry about the poor pics, but it wouldn't turn around, and it's a very dull day here.
Best wishes Chris
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Ah, I see it now! Nice little bird. I am still waiting for them to arrive here.
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Hi Woodpecker, I've got the photo and it looks like a female siskin. Lucky you I've not had any this year so far. Mind you my nyger seed has been been getting so soggy in the feeder that I have abandoned it until we get a dry spell. Ha Ha.
I'm always look forward to seeing the wonderful green of the leaf buds coming into life you don't see any other time of year and the first swallow around the 15th April. Spring, Spring Spring.
Hi SB
Last time i ever saw any Sisken in my garden was in Scotland - sadly! There was no shortage at all.
Not to say I have seen one or two at the RSPB Headquarters at Sandy that one time - a lovely male Sisken using the feeders at the hide.
What is the best time of year to see them? Is there a special time?
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Oh you're so lucky Chris! I've never seen one in our garden (have seen them on the walkway though).
I see your feeder has perch rings on it, do the birds use them? I had to take them off my new feeder as no one was using it because of the perch rings.
Oh and is that RSPB No Mess Sunflower Mix too? They have it on offer at the moment, 20% extra free :o)
Nicki C said:If you press edit, and post again the 'downloaded' picture will come back (or that is my own theory)
Hi Kathy
Thanks for the tip. I tried that and it seems to have worked for me. I don't know if that means it has worked for everybody else as well.
Nicki C said:What is the best time of year to see them? Is there a special time?
Hi again Kathy
I think that they usually appear at this time of the year because their regular food source has disappeared and they are looking for something to eat in gardens.
I have 2 siskins that are a brighter green than this one and they usually arrive together quite early, before the goldfinches. This one came along on her own, and looked very nervous.
Unknown said: I see your feeder has perch rings on it, do the birds use them? I had to take them off my new feeder as no one was using it because of the perch rings. Oh and is that RSPB No Mess Sunflower Mix too? They have it on offer at the moment, 20% extra free :o)
Hi Paul
I have tried an experiment: Some feeders have some perch rings and others don't. The tits don't care, but the robins and chaffinches seem to like them. It makes little difference to the siskins and goldfinches, they seem to perch on perch rings or metal perches, whichever happens to be free.
That mix is Jacob Jayne Special Mix HF blend 2 (without the small seeds that get left in my garden) I also bought it when it was on offer, but I regularly use it. I also use the blend with mealworms in it as it's the only way that I can feed mealworms to any birds other than starlings here.
Well done Woodpecker for getting your little girl siskin. My two are still coming, but are both males.
I also tried the experiment with the plastic ring perches. I had half ring and half normal. The birds wouldn't go near the new ring ones at all, so I took them away. Do you think I should try again?
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
That's a lovely photo Chris - now that I can see it! Well done on getting them to your garden. I have a feeling they have by-passed me this year.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Susan H said:I also tried the experiment with the plastic ring perches. I had half ring and half normal. The birds wouldn't go near the new ring ones at all, so I took them away. Do you think I should try again?
Hi Sparrow
I think that they sometimes take a while to get used to them. When I first had them I took them off because the birds didn't seem to like them, but now they don't seem to mind as much
I bought a new Onyx feeder from Jacobi Jayne, and a robin has perched on that feeder today. He previously only used to perch on the suet holder because he couldn't seem to manage the perches on the tubular feeders.